Rights Holder: Oxfordshire County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
FINGER RING
Unique ID: BERK-80C888
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete but worn cast copper alloy finger ring of post medieval (16th to 17th century) date. The finger ring has a sub-lozenge-shaped bezel with an outer perimeter inscription in black enamel which is now illegible. In the centre of the bezel within a circular border there is a depiction of a skull in white enamel. Both shoulders are decorated with a flower and scroll motif with a chevron below. The hoop is D-shaped in cross-section, almost stirrup shaped, and is undecorated. Both upper and inner surfaces of the finger retains much of the original gilding. This is ring was probably used - or intended to have been used - as a memento mori ring and probably dates to the 16th or 17th century AD. A very similar finger ring is recorded on this database as WAW-9BA28E.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Exactly AD 1500
Date to: Circa AD 1699
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 17.2 mm
Height: 18.2 mm
Width: 16.1 mm
Thickness: 2.8 mm
Weight: 4.8 g
Diameter: 19 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: 2016.814
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Figurative
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
District: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish or ward: Kintbury (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SU3966
Four figure Latitude: 51.39170595
Four figure longitude: -1.44087355
1:25K map: SU3966
1:10K map: SU36NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: LIN-5AF0C0
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Treasure reference number 2013 T355: a gold enamelled finger ring dating to the 16th or 17th century. The ring has a circular bezel decorated…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: CAM-49BF57
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A gold slightly bent mourning finger-ring of c.16th century AD date. A white enamel skull was present at the centre of the upper surface of t…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SF-FFB6E5
Object type: FINGER RING
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
Description: A complete gold inscribed finger ring of c 16th century date. It is likely to be a memento mori ring in remembrance of death.
…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618